Publisher's Summary

Time travel meets history in this new drama adaptation by Marty Ross.
'So tell me, Dr Maxwell, if the whole of history lay before you...where would you go? What would you like to witness?'
When Max, a recent ancient history graduate, is offered a mysterious job at St Mary's Historical Research Institute, she quickly comes to realise this isn't any old stuffy research library. At St Mary's the historians don't just study the past - they revisit it.
What begins as an academic exploration of events, such as the Peterloo Massacre, takes a dark and dangerous turn, and the historians of St Mary's soon learn that it's not just history they're fighting....
Follow the tea-soaked disaster magnets of St Mary's as they rattle around history. Because wherever these historians go, chaos is sure to follow.
Starring Gemma Whelan (SAG nominated, Game of Thrones, Gulliver's Travels), Ben Miles (SAG nominated, The Crown, V for Vendetta), Jonathan Bailey (Broadchurch, Leonardo, The Mercy) and Zara Ramm (narrator of the original Chronicles of St Mary's audiobooks), this Audible Original production will transport you to iconic moments throughout history, from the Cretaceous period to the destruction of the Great Library at Alexandria.

People who bought this also bought...

Customer Reviews

Might be tough for longtime series fans

Any additional comments?

I am frustrated by this audioplay... I love this St. Mary's universe and want nothing but continued success and fame for author Jodi Taylor, including expansion to other forms of media if possible. I am never the person to snobbishly complain about book-to-video adaptations and actually prefer the opportunity to see a different creative take on great stories. But the script of this adaptation just doesn't sit right when compared to the book series.

While the vocal performances are quite good (especially the always brilliant Zara Ramm), and some details from the books are beautifully incorporated in this audioplay (Bairstow's ticking clock, Kleio's musical tones), there are many distracting changes to some seminal St. Mary's themes and details.

Some of the main cast of characters are essentially ignored (Peterson, Foster, Dowson, Mack), and some have quite different personalities (Leon is melodramatic, publicly flirtatious, and classically charming instead of painfully stoic, romantically awkward, and flawed). Many elements from the book are included, but in a different order or under different circumstances that feel shoe-horned for no reason instead of out of necessity for the change in storytelling format.

I must give credit to the way the scenes at the WWI hospital at the Somme were recorded... that was one of the most emotionally impactful parts from the book for me, and the sound effects used in this audioplay really ramp up the intensity.

It is not an unpleasant listen, and I'm glad I gave it a shot, but I have a feeling die-hard St. Mary's fans will not enjoy as much as they had hoped.

Why, Why, Why change so much

What would have made Just One Damned Thing After Another better?

It wouldn't take much, just stay with the story as originally written by Jodi Taylor. I understand that changes need to be made for this type of adaptation, but there is NO reason to re-write it. The many, many followers of the 'disaster-magnets of St. Mary's' prove that Jodi Taylor has done a great job of creating a world, populating it with characters you care about who act consistently throughout, without being in your face hostile and aggressive.

Would you ever listen to anything by Marty Ross again?

Not if it is a dramatization of popular series.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Extreme disappointment with Audible and Accent for allowing this project to continue with all of the changes made; with some anger at the changes made which are contrary not only to the original, but with the philosophy of the 'world'; and sadness that new listeners would think that this is St. Mary's and the story written by Jodi Taylor. I was also astounded by the aggressive, back-stabbing confrontations that were created and that the subtlety and quiet humor was wholly lacking.

Any additional comments?

This is not a story for die-hard fans of St. Mary's or anyone who might want to be one.

Customer Reviews

Slightly slow start but my god does it get going!!

If you could sum up Just One Damned Thing After Another in three words, what would they be?

Just Damned Loved (it!)

What other book might you compare Just One Damned Thing After Another to, and why?

I suppose it reminded me a bit of Harry Potter in some way, but really quite original n new.

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favourite?

Ben Miles is a cool actor but all the narrators did a great job.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

All the time travel scenes were brilliant. There's a scene with a dying soldier in the war which practically made me cry n there's a great sex scene which feels very real n fun.

Any additional comments?

downloaded this because I loved the Romeo and Juliet adaptation that the writer did and this is very different but just as good. Starts a setting the scene which was a bit slow maybe but then it gets going and it's fantastic!

One damned thong after another:Audio drama

I have all of the chronicals, novels and short stories and I listen to them over and over, and I have wished hard for a tv series or film. Then, lo and behold! an audio play. There is none of the struggle that comes from thinking that I would not have cast one or other actor in any particular part, here, because you don't see them and so your imagination isn't dissappointed, which is a problem for me if I have followef a series of books. Obviously the play is not in the exact form of the book but the story is all there. I. LOVED. IT ! I bought it yesterday and have already istened to it twice. l may even listen to it again today because, quite frankly, it is better than the telly. Please make more!